Antarctic Cruises with Ponant – new brochure

PONANT’s 2015-2016 ANTARCTIC CRUISES

The world’s only French-flagged cruise line and top cruise line worldwide in polar expeditions for 15 years, PONANT’s itineraries to the Antarctic for the 2015-2016 season include, for the first time, three ships in the region plus an itinerary that includes the Sub Antarctic Islands of Australia and New Zealand.

THE ANTARCTIC EXPERIENCE

Exploring the world’s extreme regions in five-star comfort has become a PONANT hallmark.

From November 2015 to January 2016, PONANT has three outstanding Antarctic itineraries offering a genuine polar safari experience to observe the region’s unique wildlife in its natural habitat. Aboard LE BORÉAL, L’AUSTRAL and the recently launched LE LYRIAL, luxury French-flag yachts of 122 to 132 staterooms and suites, designed for polar cruises and complying with the international “Green Ship” label, passengers gain access to protected sites only accessible to small capacity ships, limited in this region to 200 passengers.

Flexibility at all times is the approach that sets these cruises apart, with Zodiac® outings to get passengers as close as it is possible to nature, with time to linger over the region’s most emblematic sites. At any moment the ship may alter its course to admire the acrobatics of a humpback whale or land passengers on a beach to meet a particularly impressive penguin colony. It is a unique experience made all the more interesting by renowned South Pole specialists who are only too delighted to share their views and passion for these polar lands which they have been roaming for years.

Voyage examples: (current pricing, subject to increase)

Emblematic Antarctica – Le Lyrial / Le Austral

Complete immersion in the vast white world of the Antarctic Peninsula, discovering the tabular icebergs and drifting pack ice where fur seals and colonies of Gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins live.

Ushuaia – Ushuaia (11 days): 8 departures from November to January, including New Year Cruise
From 9060 AUD per person (direct flights and transfers Buenos Aires/Ushuaia included) plus $750 Safety and Port taxes

The Great Adventure: The Peninsula & South Georgia – Le Lyrial

Essence of the Antarctic Peninsula’s white landscapes and discovering of South Georgia with its imposing glaciers and black sandy beaches, home to vast colonies of king penguins.

Montevideo – Ushuaia or v.v. (15 days to 16 days): 2 departures, November and February
From 7790 AUD per person (direct flights and transfers Buenos Aires/Ushuaia included) plus $1050 Safety and Port taxes

The Great Austral Loop – Le Boreal / L’Austral

Highlights of three regions – Falklands and the black-browed albatross, South Georgia and king penguins, plus the majestic icebergs of the North Antarctic Peninsula – make for an unforgettable journey.

Ushuaia – Ushuaia (14, 15 and 16 night options): 4 departures November and December 2105
From 9970 AUD per person (direct flights and transfers Buenos Aires/Ushuaia included) plus $1125 Safety and Port taxes

The Sub Antarctic Islands of Australia & New Zealand – Le Soleal

Extraordinary in their primitive beauty, mostly of volcanic origins and less icy than their ‘sister islands’, this rarely visited and protected region abounds in marine, airborne and terrestrial bio-diversity, earning UNESCO World Heritage status. “The Galapagos of the Southern Ocean”.

Christchurch – Melbourne (15 nights): 1 departure in December.

From 7080 AUD per person plus $1125 Safety and Port taxes

Online Brochure

Link to new Collection – Australian version:
ANTARCTICA CRUISES: December 2015 – February 2016.
http://fr.calameo.com/read/00013242389ec7c742966